Nail holder

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hand tool intended for use as a holder for nails of all sizes, including brads. A tubular barrel has a side nail-gripping slot near one end, an interior spring abutment in the barrel removed from that end and cooperating longitudinal pin slots between the nail-gripping slot and the spring abutment, a sleeve surrounding and telescoping around the barrel having near one end a gripping face, preferably including a socket and an inclined gripping wall, which cooperates with the nail-gripping slot to grip a nail, a pin extending through the sleeve and through the cooperating longitudinal slots in the barrel, a compression spring within the barrel acting between the spring abutment and the pin and gripping means projecting from the sleeve preferably extending a substantial distance to the side in prolongation of the pin and as an extension from the pin. In the preferred embodiment the limiter for the telescoping motion of the sleeve is the ends of the cooperating longitudinal slots in the barrel.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,789,895

Levinson Feb. 5, 1974 NAIL HOLDER [57] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Walter Levinsun 101 The invention relates to a hand tool intended for use COI'lShOhOCkI1 State Apt. 3C, as f n A Bala Cynwyd 19004 tubular barrel has a side nail-gripping slot near one [22] Fil d; O t, 5, 1971 end, an interior spring abutment in the barrel removed from that end and cooperating longitudinal pin slots [21] Appl 186642 between the nail-gripping slot and the spring abut Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant ExaminerMark S. Bicks ment, a sleeve surrounding and telescoping around the barrel having near one end a gripping face, preferably including a socket and an inclined gripping wall, which cooperates with the nail-gripping slot to grip a nail, a pin extending through the sleeve and through the cooperating longitudinal slots in the barrel, a com- Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jackson, Jackson and Chovanes pression spring within the barrel acting between the spring abutment and the pin and gripping means projecting from the sleeve preferably extending a substantial distance to the side in prolongation of the pin and as an extension from the pin. In the preferred embodiment the limiter for the telescoping motion of the sleeve is the ends of the cooperating longitudinal slots in the barrel.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures SHEEI 1 OF 2 FIG.

FIG. 2

PATENTED 51974 SHEEI 2 0F 2 FIG.5.

FIG. 4

FIG. 3

NAIL HOLDER The invention relates to a hand tool for holding nails of all sizes, including brads, while they are started or while the preliminary operations for driving them are accomplished.

An important and main object of the invention is to protect the user from injury particularly to the fingers from a misdirected stroke of the hammer. In many cases this protection is more needed when driving small nails in which the margin between safety and damage to the fingers is a close one.

A further purpose is to hold all nails regardless of size while they are started or preliminarily driven, covering a range as small as brads only one half inch long to and including nails such as eight or ten penny or even spikes which are larger.

A further object of the invention is to avoid misdirecting the nail or having it ricochet so that in an effort to start it it drops on the floor or the ground.

A further purpose is to increase the range of operation by a person on the ladder or reaching into an inaccessible place to drive a nail by permitting him to hold the nail out beyond range of his hand by the holder.

A further purpose is to aid in driving nails for hanging pictures, nailing down rugs, nailing down linoleum and putting up signs and the like.

A further purpose is to protect the spring in the device against being involved with and possibly injuring fingers and the hand or becoming inoperative from dirt or mud or becoming caughtin clothing and the like.

The invention is shown by a preferred embodiment which is selected from the standpoint of clear illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIG. 1 is a broken away side elevation of the device of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the device of the invention looking from the end at which the nail is gripped.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of FIG. 2 on the line 3-3, showing the device holding a nail.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the sleeve retracted.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section partially broken away on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing the sleeve fully extended and closing the nail-gripping slot.

In the prior art there have been several devices developed which perform the function of holding nails for the purpose of starting. Diehl US. Pat. No. 3,326,254, granted June 20, 1967 shows an elongated article holder having an exposed spring and a spherical slider on the end, which has certain disadvantages over which the present device is a distinct improvement. One of these disadvantages is that it is not adapted very well for driving nails at an angle.

In particular the present device is very superior from the standpoint of safety, protecting the fingers and the hand from being struck by the hammer and at the same time involving no unusual hazard itself, such as the hazard of catchingthe fingers in the spring, since the problem of safety is more acute in driving small nails and brads because the margin of clearance of the fingers from the hammer is smaller in the case of small nails and brads. I

The device of the invention is capable of embodiment in various sizes but a single size can be made which is capable of functioning to hold brads of one half inch length up to nails as large as eight penny or ten penny.

The invention holds the nail very firmly upright and does not have the disadvantage that the nail can ricochet off from the holder without being directed straight.

The invention makes it possible to increase the range of operation of a workman, whether he is working say out to the side or high up or far down with respect to his body.

In the nail holder of the invention, a longitudinal barrel 20 of tubular form is stationary with respect to the nail holder and provides a base for other parts. The barrel 20 has a side slot 22 (or side slots 22 since in one aspect they are symmetrical matching slots) for gripping the nail which as shown preferably extends into the center of the tube, and has a width adequate to admit the largest nail which the device may hold. It will be evident, of course, that larger or smaller devices may be made as desired.

A spring abutment 24 is formed as by inwardly deforming the tube at a distance back from the side gripping slot 22. This abutment is conveniently for limiting the base of the spring but may be replaced by another suitable spring abutment if desired.

The barrel between the spring abutment 24 and the side gripping slot 22 has central opposite longitudinal slots 26 whose length is adequate to limit the motion of the sleeve to be described in its two directions.

Around the end of the barrel remote from the side gripping slot 22 extending preferably over the spring abutment 24 is a cover 28preferably of rubber or plastie and preferably soft enough and resilient enough to be gripped by the hand.

Around the barrel at the forward end and telescoping with respect to it so that adequate clearance from the barrel is provided, is a tubular sleeve 30 which cooperates in the nail-gripping function. The sleeve 30 at its forward end has nail-gripping faces 32 which are inclined toward the position of the nail, at which they merge with opposite sockets 34 which receive and cooperate with the side gripping slot 22 in gripping the nail. It will be understood that the gripping faces 32 and the sockets 34 are symmetrical on the two sides of the device, only one side being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The sleeve when it grips the nail 36 as shown in FIG. 4 is pushed forward by a pin 38 passing through the longitudinal slots 26 and acted on by a spiral compression spring 42; The outer end of the pin in prolongation of the pin forms a button or operating member 40 which extends out radially and also widens laterally with respect to the pin.

In operation of the device, the sleeve is retracted by the finger which pushes on the button 40, moving the sleeve to the position of FIG. 4. The finger pressing the button is helped by the fact that the button has a substantial length transverse to the axis of the barrel and a face perpendicular to that axis, the button being in this way much wider than the pin as for example due to forming or flattening, and the button extending completely out from the sleeve as a distinct angled projection.

The user then inserts the desired nail so that it is seated in the nail-gripping slot 22'and protrudes from the nail holder at one side of the slot. The sleeve is then released by releasing the button and the spring action grips the nail.

When the user starts to drive the nail the action of the hammer is sufficient to make the nail slide through the gripper until it is anchored in the wood or other material into which it is driven. The nail holder is released by pulling back the sleeve due to the action of the finger on the button into the position of FIG. 4 and the nail holder is removed from the partially driven nail by moving the side gripping slot away from the nail. Then the driving of the nail can be completed without having the gripper in the way.

If the hammer strikes the gripper unintentionally at the forward end, the device is rugged enough so that in many cases it can still function without becoming inoperative.

The device of the invention constitutes a very we]- come tool for use in the home.

One of the features of the device of the invention is that it is well adapted to drive nails at an angle.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a nail holder for holding a nail, a tubular barrel having a side nail gripping a slot near one end, an interior spring abutment removed from that end in the barrel and cooperating longitudinal pin slots in the barrel between the nail gripping slot and the spring abutment, a sleeve surrounding the barrel, telescoping with respect to it, the sleeve having at the end a socket which will contain the nail and a shortened nail gripping face which extends from the end of the barrel to the edge of the socket, there being upper and lower nail gripping engagement between the barrel and the socket to hold the nail at two separate different places differently spaced from the point of the nail, means extending through the sleeve and into the slots in the barrel, a compression spring in the barrel acting between the spring abutment and the means extending through the slots in the barrel, means projecting from the sleeve forming a handle to manipulate the sleeve in sliding,

and means for limiting the sleeve in extension. 

1. In a nail holder for holding a nail, a tubular barrel having a side nail gripping a slot near one end, an interior spring abutment removed from that end in the barrel and cooperating longitudinal pin slots in the barrel between the nail gripping slot and the spring abutment, a sleeve surrounding the barrel, telescoping with respect to it, the sleeve having at the end a socket which will contain the nail and a shortened nail gripping face which extends from the end of the barrel to the edge of the socket, there being upper and lower nail gripping engagement between the barrel and the socket to hold the nail at two separate different places differently spaced from the point of the nail, means extending through the sleeve and into the slots in the barrel, a compression spring in the barrel acting between the spring abutment and the means extending through the slots in the barrel, means projecting from the sleeve forming a handle to manipulate the sleeve in sliding, and means for limiting the sleeve in extension. 